Parliamentary questions
Rhoda Grant
2,396 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental practices stopped providing NHS general dental services in each of the last two years in (a) Argyll and Bute, (b) Mid Highland, (c) North Highland and (d) South East Highland community health partnerships.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is provided in the following table.</p> <p >Number of Practices that Stopped Providing NHS General Dental Services<sup> </sup>in the Years Ending 31 March</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td …
19 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many dentists have provided NHS general dental services in each of the last two years in (a) Argyll and Bute, (b) Mid Highland, (c) North Highland and (d) South East Highland community health partnerships, also expressed per 10,000 of population.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information is shown in the following table.</p> <p >Number of Dentists<sup>1</sup> who have Provided NHS General Dental Services, and Rates<sup>2</sup> per 10,000 of Population; at 30 September</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thea…
19 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) number and (b) percentage of patients have been registered with an NHS dentist in each of the last two years in (i) Argyll and Bute, (ii) Mid Highland, (iii) North Highland and (iv) South East Highland community health partnerships.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information by community health partnership is published at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=Reg_No3_Allregions_mar_jun_sep_dec07__.xls&pContentDispositionType=attachment">http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servle…
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to Ministerial the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 22 May 2008 on fuel poverty, what criteria will be used to prioritise cases when considering future applications for new central heating systems.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: All householders who were eligible for the Central Heating Programme before my announcement of 22 May 2008 remain eligible. Amongst new applicants received after 22 May 2008, priority will be given to those most likely to be fuel poor. For this year, priority…
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Ministerial statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 22 May 2008 on fuel poverty, what priority will be given to those who have chronic health illnesses, such as asthma and diabetes, and who have a partial or inefficient central heating system.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14165 on 20 June 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Ministerial statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 22 May 2008 on fuel poverty, what priority will be given to those aged between 75 and 80 who have a partial or inefficient central heating system.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14165 on 20 June 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Ministerial statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 22 May 2008 on fuel poverty, what priority will be given to those aged between 75 and 80 who require a central heating system.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14165 on 20 June 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 22 May 2008 on fuel poverty, what priority will be given to those who suffer from chronic health illnesses, such as asthma and diabetes and require central heating systems.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14165 on 20 June 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
11 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was allocated for affordable homes for rent in each year since 2003-04 in (a) Highland, (b) Orkney, (c) Shetland, (d) Western Isles, (e) Moray and (f) Argyll and Bute and how much will be allocated in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10, also expressed at constant prices, and ho…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The grant allocation at the beginning of each financial year is a single figure which includes provision for all relevant elements of the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP). In addition to the provision of affordable housing for rent this includes…
11 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of what percentage of adults who smoke resided in the NHS Highland area and its constituent Community Health Partnership areas in each of the last two years.
Answer · Shona Robison: The official source of statistics on smoking prevalence amongst adults is the Scottish Household Survey. This survey is not designed to be representative at NHS board level, so smoking prevalence figures at this level of geography should be interpreted with c…
11 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the mortality rates have been per 100,000 population for coronorary heart disease in people aged under 75 in the NHS Highland area in each year since 2000, also expressed as a percentage of the 2000 rate.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The number of deaths and the death rates per 100,000, both crude and age-sex standardised, from coronary heart disease for NHS Highland in people aged under 75 during the years 2000-06 are set out in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 ce…
5 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement made to the Parliament by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 4 June 2008 on the Scottish Ambulance Service, whether the action plan will be extended to examine the recruitment and retention of volunteer drivers.
Answer · Shona Robison: While the actions outlined by the Cabinet Secretary on 4 June do not include examination of the recruitment and retention of volunteer car drivers, the Scottish Ambulance Service will be reviewing their Patient Transport Strategy over the coming months and th…
5 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement made to the Parliament by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 4 June 2008 on the Scottish Ambulance Service, whether the action plan will examine shift patterns and on-call periods.
Answer · Shona Robison: The development of the action plan to eliminate the rostered single manning of traditional double crewed accident and emergency ambulances will include consideration of shift patterns and on-call periods.</p>
28 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty’s Government on changes to the tax-free rate to ensure that volunteer driver numbers are maintained, in light of the impact of rising fuel costs on such drivers.
Answer · Shona Robison: One of the first actions outlined in the Refreshed Strategy for Volunteering issued recently to the NHS in Scotland was to review the payment of out of pocket expenses for volunteers. This review is currently in hand and further guidance will be issued on thi…
28 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what factors will be taken into account when reviewing the mileage rates paid by the Scottish Ambulance Service to volunteer drivers.
Answer · Shona Robison: While this is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service, it has advised me that the factors that will be taken in to account will be the costs of fuel and the costs of maintaining vehicles.</p>
28 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what incentives can be offered to local groups, such as the Badenoch and Strathspey Community Transport Company volunteer car scheme, to recruit new volunteer drivers.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Executive does not provide direct support to local community based projects. However, local voluntary organisations can apply to the NHS board in their area for grant funding under section 16b of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978. A…
28 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the use of taxis by the NHS to supplement the ambulance and volunteer service is an effective use of public money.
Answer · Shona Robison: This is a matter for NHS boards. It is understood, however, that taxis may be used under specific circumstances. For instance some areas co-ordinate the use of local taxis under contract arrangements to bring people in to the out-of-hours service if they are …
28 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has in place to ensure that there are sufficient numbers of volunteer drivers.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10474 on 10 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
28 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the real-terms decrease in the mileage rate paid by the Scottish Ambulance Service to volunteer drivers is acceptable.
Answer · Shona Robison: While this is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service, they have assured me that the current rates, last reviewed in May, cover the costs. The Scottish Ambulance Service will now be reviewing the rates on a monthly basis to ensure this contin…
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the standardised mortality rates were per 1,000 population in (a) NHS Highland (b) NHS Grampian (c) NHS Western Isles (d) NHS Orkney and (e) NHS Shetland in the most recent period for which figures are available, broken down by deprivation quintile, and how these figures compare with…
Answer · John Swinney : Standardised death rates per 1,000 population for individual NHS board areas can be found in Vital Events Reference Table 1.3, which is available from the GROS Website via this address:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions are outlined in the draft single outcome agreement with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in relation to services for women who are victims of domestic violence.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12602 on 12 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions are outlined in the draft single outcome agreement with Argyll and Bute Council in relation to services for women who are victims of domestic violence.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12602 on 12 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions are outlined in the draft single outcome agreement with Shetland Islands Council in relation to services for women who are victims of domestic violence.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12602 on 12 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions are outlined in the draft single outcome agreement with Orkney Islands Council in relation to services for women who are victims of domestic violence.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12602 on 12 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions are outlined in the draft single outcome agreement with Moray Council in relation to services for women who are victims of domestic violence.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12602 on 12 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions are outlined in the draft single outcome agreement with Highland Council in relation to services for women who are victims of domestic violence.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: We are currently in the process of agreeing single outcome agreements (SOAs) for 2008-09 with all 32 councils. We aim to complete this process by 30 June 2008 and, subject to agreement with councils, all finalised agreements will be made publicly available sh…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft single outcome agreement with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar specifies how and when the council will offer kinship care allowances to a wider range of recipients and, if so, what the details are in the agreement.
Answer · Adam Ingram: Providing a weekly allowance for approved kinship carers of looked after children is one of the commitments contained in the concordat signed with COSLA in November 2007. Progress against each of the commitments in the concordat will be reported annually by C…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft single outcome agreement with Argyll and Bute Council specifies how and when the council will offer kinship care allowances to a wider range of recipients and, if so, what the details are in the agreement.
Answer · Adam Ingram: Providing a weekly allowance for approved kinship carers of looked after children is one of the commitments contained in the concordat signed with COSLA in November 2007. Progress against each of the commitments in the concordat will be reported annually by C…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft single outcome agreement with Shetland Islands Council specifies how and when the council will offer kinship care allowances to a wider range of recipients and, if so, what the details are in the agreement.
Answer · Adam Ingram: Providing a weekly allowance for approved kinship carers of looked after children is one of the commitments contained in the concordat signed with COSLA in November 2007. Progress against each of the commitments in the concordat will be reported annually by C…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft single outcome agreement with Orkney Islands Council specifies how and when the council will offer kinship care allowances to a wider range of recipients and, if so, what the details are in the agreement.
Answer · Adam Ingram: Providing a weekly allowance for approved kinship carers of looked after children is one of the commitments contained in the concordat signed with COSLA in November 2007. Progress against each of the commitments in the concordat will be reported annually by C…